Baseball-umpire&#39;s indicator



Aug. 7, 1923. 1,464,227

I w. M. TYNER BASEBALL UMPIRE s INDICATOR Filed April 1922 2-Sheets-Sh'eet 1 Patented An 7, 1923 e n a barren sitar WILLARD M. TYNEBL, 01 BETHANTZ, IviISSOURI.

BASEBALL-UMPIIBES INDICATOR.

Application filed April 3,

To all whom may concern:

I Be it known that I, lVrLm-inn M. TYNnn, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Bethany, county of Harrison, State of lvlissouri, have invented a certain new and useful lmproveinent in Baseball-Umpires Indicators, of which the following is com plete specification.

This invention relates to indicators and more especially to a device for use by baseball umpires for tallying the number of strikes or balls called on the player at but in a baseball game, and my object to produce a device of this character by which the umpire not only records the number Of strikes or balls, but by so doing automatically signals the information to the players and the spectators.

A further object is to produce a device of the character mentioned equipped with means by which the umpire can record by a movement of his thumb, each out as made.

More especially my object is to produce a device having a stationary arm and a plurality ot movable arms initially in the same radial position, the movable arms being adapted to successively assume different radial positions with respect to the stat-ionary arm, and. each other, when the 'umpire holding the device in a horizontal position withdraws certain restraining means to permit the arms respectively, to move. When the device is first horizontally held, but one strike will be indicated, but upon the movement oi the first movable arm to a new position, the device indicates that two strikes or balls have been called, and the movement of a second movable arm to a different position indicates that three strikes or three balls have been called. In practical use, the umpire will have one of the devices in hand, one for calling strikes and the other for calling balls, it being; understood that the device used in a particular hand shall be always used for strikes and that the other one shall always be used for balls, so that the players and spectators shall be able to tell whether a strike or a ball is called by noting which device the our pire operates, the identification being made certain it the umpire gestures with the corresponding hand for the better display of the device operated.

lVith the objects named in view the in- 1922. Serial No. 548,941..

vention consists in certain novel and useful features of construction and combination of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed; and in order that it may be fully understood, reference to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a side view of the device as it will appear on the calling of the one strike, and shows in dotted lines the position one the movable signal blades will occupy in order to indicate two strikes.

Figu e 2 is an enlarged broken side view of the casing removed and with the mechanism in normal position.

Figure is a view of the device similar to that of Figure 2, but illustrates the parts in the positions they occupy after the triger has been pulled back to register one strike, none of the signal blades being released ior movement on the first operation of the trigger.

Figure is a top plan view of the device as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 5 an enlarged broken top plan view of the device as seen in Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a section on the line VL H of Figure 2, but with the casing members in position.

Figure 7 is a view of the device, as shown in Figure 3, with the recording plate removed and the slide release operated, the device being; positioned as required to return the blades to initial position.

Figure 8 is a View similar to that of Figure 2, but of the opposite side of the device and on a reduced scale.

Figure 9 is a section on the line IXIX of Figure 2.

in the said drawings, where like reference characters identity corresponding parts in all of the figures, 1 represents a frame member of substantially revolver shape and provided with an extension 2 equipped with grip plates 2 to form the handle of the device, and at its opposite end the frame is enlarged as at 8 to form a circular bearing plate for the rotative signal blades hereina'l'ter referred to.

A stationary signal blade 4 is secured to or formed integrally with the bearing portion 3, and secured at opposite sides of said blade 4 and oi similar outline are a pair of movable signal blades 5 and 6, although it will be understood in this connection that the device may be made with any suitable number of such movable blades. Each of said movable blades are formed with substantially circular bearing portions 7 corresponding to portion 3 and are secured rotatively in position by means of a pair of interlocking screws 8. or in any other desirable manner, and are adapted for gravitative action around their axes, as will hereinafter appear.

The blade is cut away as at 9 for substantially one ourth of its circumference and at one extremity of such cut away por tion is formed with a slot 9 for the reception of a locking slide as will hereinafter appear. it is also formed with a stop portion 10 for abutment with such slide; and at the opposite end of such cut away portion is formed with a shallow slot 10 and a stop 11.

The blade 6 is also peripherally cut away but to a greater depth and less length as at 12 than the corresponding portion of blade 5, and is provided with a slot 12 coincid ing with the slot 9 and is formed with a stop 13; and at its other end the cut away portion terminates in a slot 15" of depth somewhat greater than that of the slot 10 of blade 5, and is also formed with a stop 14.

The frame 1 is formed with a longitudinal slot 15 extending radially of the axes of the blades, and terminating at one end a short distance from the pivotal point 8 of the blades and at its other end near the rear extremity of the frame, and mounted in said slot for sliding action is a slide member 16, formed near its front portion with a pair of wing extensions 17 and 18 forming caches, (see Figures 6 to 9), respectively adapted to engage with the slots in blades and 6. In this connection it is desirable to state that upon the withdrawal of the slide a certain distance when the device is in a horizontal position, the catch 18 will be withdrawn from the slot 12" before catch is Withdrawn from the slot 9 due to the ct hat cut away portion 12 is deeper than the cut away portion 9, and that the blade e will, therefore, be permitted to drop under gravitative action until stopped and held in position by the abutment of the stop 1 with the catch 18, the blade being retained in this position by the entry of said catch 18 into the slot 13 upon the outward movement of the slide. Upon further with drawal of the-slide, the catch 17 will be withdrawn from the slot 9 and the blade 5 will be permitted to assume a position at right angles to the frame due to the greater length of its cut away portion, the stop 11 coming into abutment with the catch 17, and upon the release of the slide, said catch 17 will enter the slot 10 and hold the blade against rotativc movement in either direction. It will be evident that during this latter operation, the blade 6 will be held against movement as its stop 14 will be continuously in abutment with catch 18.

In order to provide mechanism for carrying out the above operations successively, a plate 19 is secured to the rear end of the slide 16 by means of screws 20 which pass through the slot 15, and by means of their heads abutting the opposite side of the frame 1, retain the slide and plate in position within the slot. The opposite edges of the plate 19 are formed with a series of teeth 21 and 22.

The slide. 16 is adapted to be yieldingly held in its forward position with its catches l? and 18 in engagement with the notches of the blades, by means of a spring 23 secured at one end to the slide and .at its other end to the frame 1 (see Figure 8).

In order to withdraw the slide step by step in accordance with the requirement of indicating a certain number of strikes or balls, a trigger 25 is pivoted as at 24 to frame 1, and is spaced therefrom by a spacing sleeve 24 and overlies the plate 19. At a point below the plate 19, the trigger provided with a pivoted dog 26, having an auxiliary tooth 26 for a purpose hereinafter pointed out, and said dog is held yieldingly in position for engagement with the teeth 22 by a spring 28 carried by the trigger. The movement of the trigger is limited by a pair of stops 29 and 30 secured to the frame 1, and is yieldingly held in forward position by a retractile spring 31 connected at one end to the frame and at its other end to the trigger.

Step by step withdrawal of the slide 16 and, therefore, of the catches 17 and 18 from engagement with the blades, is secured by means of a dog 32 pivoted as at 33 to the frame 1 and adapted to be held in engagement with the teeth 21 under the action of a spring 3e secured to the frame. The dog upon movement of the trigger into contact with stop 29, is lifted from engagement vith the teeth 21, by a pin projecting from the inside face of the trigger (see Figure 3), in order to permit the slide to return to normal position, when tripped, as will hereinafter appear.

The slide may be ripped for return to normal position under the action of its spring 23 by means of a lever 37 pivoted as at 38 to the frame. and formed at its opposite end with a tooth for engagement and operation of the tooth 26 of dog 26. The lever is provided with an operating pin ll) and normally abuts against the bottom edge of plate 19, the abutting face of the lever being rounded as at 40 so as not to engage the teeth 22 and interfere with the proper operation of the slide. said lever is restricted by an underlying stop L1, and it is normally held with its The movement of 2 portion l abutting the plate 19 by a spring 42 carried by the trains. lit will be evident that upon downward movement of the lever 3i from the position shown in igure 3, its tooth 35} by engagement with toothQG, will cause the dog to be pulled out of engagement with the teeth 22 (see Figure 7), and as at this time the pin 35 oi the trigger 25, is holding the dog 32 out of contact with the teeth 21, that the slide is "tree :tor for ward nioven'ient under the pull or its-spring 23, providing that slots oi the movable blades are in alinenient with slot 15.

The operative parts above-described are enclosed in a pair of casing; members 43 secured in position on opposite sides or the frame by means of a series of suitable screws all which engage threaded opening; in the frame and one of said casin 1116111- hers is provided with a pair of o enings and the former being provided in orcer that theoperator upon successive operations of the device be enabled to visibly register the number oi stri balls called as registered. This registerine; device comprises a plate lo carried by the plate 19 and overlying the lever .25, and is provided with a series oi numbers 0 i, 2 and 3, each number successively up Jearing through the opening at as the device is operated. The other opening 4:5 is to permit oi the external projection of the operating pin lt of the lever 39.

.-\i triangular tally iii-ember li is pivotally carried by the trains l as at id and it prokcts thriiiua'h an opening' in the other casmember 43 in convenient position operation by the thumb of the umpire, and bears a series oi? numerals O, 1 and 2, and may be used for registering the number of outs made during inning as will be clearly apparent without explanation. The tally ineinber yieldin 'ly held in any posi- 'tion of adjustment by means of sprig 4-9 carried by the casing: member (see Figure l The operation. of the device during a baseball game is follows: T he parts are initiallv in the positions shown in Figure 2 tlic '3' oi plate 46 being visible through tlv opens y 45 of the casing. I Upon the callcch the umpire. will raise the de in res,"

er with the opening" 45 the parts being; retained in this position by the entoota of teeth 21. Upon the second strike, the umpire will raise the'device to a ho izontal position and by pulling the tn i will withdraw the catch 18 from the slot 'stop let with inent ot the dog" 32 with the second 195 of the blade 6 permitting said blade to swing; to radial position under gravitative action until arrested by abutment oi? its the catch 18, thus il'ldlCitlllllg to the players and spectators that two strikes have been called. The trigger is released while thede'vice still occupies a horizontal position and the catch 18 of slide 16 will enter the s 3" of the blade 6 under the impetus of "1.119; 23 and s cureiy retain the blade against movement, the device then being brought dov-in to a vertical position. During this {operation the numeral 2 will be placed in register with the opening 45, and the dog will be en gagged with the third tooth or teeth 21.. and will retain the parts in this position.

Upon the third strike, the umpire will again raise the device to a horizontal pose 'tion and will release the second movable blade 5 by pulling; the trigger, and said blade swings down to a position at right angles to the frame 1, thus indicatin to the players and spectators that three s lrLtfS have been called, and the numeral 3 viii be placed in register with the opening The operation of the parts is the same a above pointed out, it being desirable t note that tne stop will prevent the blaue 6 from swinging downward upon the fur ther withdrawal of the slide 16 to release blade 5 In order to return the blades to normal position and. reset the device for another series of operations, the umpire will maintain the trigger repressed and will swing; the device downward to a vertical position, thus causingthe movable blades to swing;- under gravity until their stops and 15, respectively, come into abutment with the catches l7 and 18, their slots 9 and 19f thus being in position to receive the catches l7 and 18. The operator will now press the pin downward to cause the tooth 39 of lever .3? to engage the tooth 26 and withdraw dog 26 from engagement with the teeth 22. As the pin 35 of the trigger is maintaining the dog 32 e evated the parts will occupy the positions shown in T, and the slide 16 will be free for forward movement under the pull of its spring" thus projecting the catches 17 and into notches 9 and 12 and locking the blades in position for another series of operations, as will be readily understood. It will be evident, however, that if for any reason it is desirable to reset the device before three strikes are called. this may be done by operating; the lever 37, as above-pointed out.

As explainech there will be one of devices for balls as well for str. and that the umpire in counting either will operate the respective device so that the player and spectators can instantly determine his decision on the last ball served to the batter.

The member 47, of course, enables the umpire to maintain a record of the number of outs in each inning.

As is well known, the excitement and noise of a ball game frequently makes it diflicult to know what is the decision of an umpire, and that by the use of this device manipulated as explained, misunderstand ings will be avoided.

From the above description it will be apparent that I have produced a device embodying the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the objects of the invention, and while I have illustrated and described the preferred form of embodiment of the invention, it will be apparent that it is susceptible of modification in minor particulars without departing from the principle of construction or mode of operation involved.

I claim:

1. An indicator comprising 'a frame, a plurality of blades mounted on the frame and normally disposed side by side, and adapted for relative pivotal movement to dispose them in different radial positions as regards each other, and a catch for holding the blades in their normal positions, and shoulders on said blades to engage the catch to retain the blades in their diiferent radial positions.

2. An indicator comprising a frame, a plurality of blades on the frame, held normally side by side, tripping means common to all of said blades for successively effecting the release of the blades to permit them to move, and common means engaging said blades to hold them in different radial positions.

3. An indicator comprising a. frame, a plurality of blades on the frame normally disposed side by side, one blade being stationary and the others movable, means com mon to all of said blades for successively releasing said movable blades to permit them to swing downward, and means to arrest such blades as they attain predetermined radial positions diifering from each other.

4. An indicator comprising a frame, a plurality f blades on the frame, normally disposed. side by side, one blade being stationary and the others movable, a catch engaging said movable blades and retaining them in position, a trigger for withdrawing said retaining means step by step to per mit said blades to successively operate, and means on said blades for engagement with said catch for securing such blades in angular relation to each other and the stationary blade.

5. An indicator comprising a frame, a plurality of blades on the frame, normally disposed side by side, one blade being stationary and the others movable, a catch engaging said movable blades and retaining them in position, a trigger for withdrawing said retaining means step by step to permit said blades to successively operate, shoulders on said blades for engaging the catch for securing such blades in different radial positions, and means for tripping said catch to permit the blades to assume their normal side by side positions.

6. An indicator comprising a frame, a plurality of blades on the frame normally disposed side by side, one blade being sta tionary and the others movable, a catch engaging said movable blades and retaining them in position, and a trigger for withdrawing said catch step by step to permit said blades to successively assume different radial positions.

7. An indicator comprising a handle, a plurality of blades on the frame normally disposed side by side, one blade being stationary and the others movable, a catch engaging said movable blades and retaining them in position, a trigger for withdrawing said catch step by step to permit said blades to successively assume different radial posi 'tions, and means for tripping said trigger to permit the blades to be returned to and retain them in their normal positions.

8. An indicator comprising a frame, a plurality of relativelymovable blades on the frame, and adapted to stand side by side or at different angles to each other, a catch for holding the blades in either of such positions, means for actuating said catch to successively release said blades, and a register to indicate the number of blades standing in angular relation to each other.

9. An indicator comprising frame, a plurality of relatively movable blades on the frame, and adapted to stand side by side or at different angles, a catch for holding the blades in either of such positions, a trig-- ger to trip the catch, and a registering plate carried by said trigger to register the number of blades standing in angular relation to each other.

10. An indicator comprising a frame. a blade rigidly projectiong therefrom, a plurality of movable blades pivoted with respect to said first named blade and normally adapted to lie side by side with respect thereto, each of said. movable blades having a cut away portion of different depth and different length, each of said movable blades being also provided with a radial slot at each extremity of its cut away portion, means engaging one of said radial slots of each blade to retain the blades in normal position, and means for withdrawing said retaining means to permit the movable blades to successively attain different radial positions.

ll ii 11. An indicator comprising a. frame, a plurality of blades on the frame and normally disposed side by side, one blade be ing stationary and the others movable a catch engaging said movable blades and retaining them in position, trigger for Withdrawing said catch step by step to permit said movable blades to successively assume difl'erent radial positions, and means for returning said trigger to normal position.

12. An indicator comprising a frame, a plurality of blades on the frame and normally disposed side by side, one blade being stationary and the others movable, a catch engaging said movable blades and retaining them in position, a trigger for withdrawing said catch step by step to permit said movable blades to successively assume different radial positions, means to return said catch to normal position, and means for returning said trigger to normal position.

In Witness whereof I hereunto afii my signature.

WILLARD M. TYNER. 

